Method and Apparatus for a Near Field Communication System to Exchange Occupant Information

1. A computer-implemented method comprising: detecting a plurality of near field communication (NFC) IDs; ranking the IDs by a number of antennas detecting each ID and an associated signal strength, respectively; determining a single ID, of the plurality of IDs, detected by the most antennas; associating a wireless device to which the single ID corresponds, with a driver; and applying a plurality of vehicle system settings correlating to the wireless device associated with the driver.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: contingent on a single ID not being detected by the most antennas, determining if a single ID was detected by one or more antennas associated with a driver's side of a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: contingent on a single ID having being detected by one or more antennas associated with the driver's side of the vehicle, associating the wireless device with which the ID corresponds with a driver, wherein, if a wireless device has not been associated with the driver, a standard set of vehicle system settings are applied.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a total number of antennas equals four.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein each of the antennas are deployed, respectively, forward of the driver, rearward of the driver, in a center console and relative to a passenger seat, further from the driver than a center console deployed antenna.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a total number of antennas equals three.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the three antennas are deployed, individually, in a driver side door, in the driver seat, and in a center console.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein if a plurality of IDs are detected, associating a device corresponding to a signal detected by more than one the most antenna to the driver.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, contingent on a single ID being detected solely by a passenger seat antenna, determining if a passenger seat is occupied, wherein contingent on passenger seat occupation, ensuring that the device with which the single ID corresponds is not associated with the driver.

10. A computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method comprising: detecting one or more near field communication (NFC) IDs, each corresponding to a wireless device; contingent on detecting a plurality of IDs, ranking the IDs by a number of antennas detecting each ID and an associated signal strength, respectively; determining a single ID, of the plurality of IDs, detected by the most antennas; contingent on a single ID being detected by the most antennas, associating the wireless device with which the ID corresponds with a driver; contingent on a single ID not being detected by the most antennas, determining if a single ID has a greatest signal strength associated with a driver side antenna; contingent on a single ID having a greatest signal strength associated with the driver side antenna, associating the wireless device with which the ID corresponds with a driver; and applying a plurality of vehicle system settings correlating to a wireless device associated with the driver, wherein, if a wireless device has not been associated with the driver, a standard set of vehicle system settings are applied.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein a total number of antennas equals four.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein each of the antennas are deployed, respectively, forward of the driver, rearward of the driver, in a center console and relative to a passenger seat, further from the driver than a center console deployed antenna.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises: if a plurality of IDs are detected, associating a device corresponding to a signal detected by more than one antenna to the driver.

14. A system comprising: a processor configured to: detect one or more near field communication (NFC) IDs, each corresponding to a wireless device; contingent on detecting a plurality of IDs, rank the IDs by a number of antennas detecting each ID and an associated signal strength, respectively; determine a single ID, of the plurality of IDs, detected by the most antennas; contingent on a single ID being detected by the most antennas, associate the wireless device with which the ID corresponds with a driver; contingent on a single ID not being detected by the most antennas, determine if a single ID was detected by one or more antennas associated with a driver's side of a vehicle; contingent on a single ID having being detected by one or more antennas associated with the driver's side of the vehicle, associate the wireless device with which the ID corresponds with a driver; and apply, via a vehicle computing system, a plurality of vehicle system settings correlating to a wireless device associated with the driver, wherein, if a wireless device has not been associated with the driver, a standard set of vehicle system settings are applied.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein a total number of antennas equals four.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein each of the antennas are deployed, respectively, forward of the driver, rearward of the driver, in a center console and relative to a passenger seat, further from the driver than a center console deployed antenna.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein a total number of antennas equals three.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the three antennas are deployed, individually, in a driver side door, in the driver seat, and in a center console.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to associate a device corresponding to a signal detected by more than one antenna to the driver, if a plurality of IDs are detected.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine if a passenger seat is occupied, contingent on a single ID being detected solely by a passenger seat antenna, and ensure that the device with which the single ID corresponds is not associated with the driver, contingent on passenger seat occupation.